Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Coming into the game tonight against the Suns, Wizards fans actually had some hope based on how they played last night that they could actually win three games in a row. Well, that ended tonight as the Suns scorched the Wizards defense late in the fourth quarter in route to a 115-101 victory.
The biggest problem for the Wizards tonight was that Phoenix hit on 17 of 40 3-pointers (42.5%) and led the Wizards 20-9 in offensive rebounds while moving six games above .500 (19-13) for the first time this season. It’s these numbers that led the downfall in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Tre Johnson continues to emerge on the court for the Wizards and had a career-high game, scoring 24 points and hitting multiple three-pointers which would end up being all for nothing.
CJ McCollum who continues to be the most consistent player for the Wizards scored 17 points, but with the Suns going on 16-3 run late in the game, none of the Wizards really had an answer for Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker who combined for 48 points.
If we look at the difference between last night and tonight, it appeared that the Wizards just didn’t play with the same urgency late in the game as they did last night. They allowed the Suns to get quite a few uncontested shots late in the game.
Washington let this game get away when they went 2:40 with scoring in the fourth quarter and the game was put out of reach by the Suns when Collin Gillespie makes 9-foot step back jump shot giving the Suns a 115-98 lead.
The Wizards don’t have much time to regroup as they head to Milwaukee for a New Years match-up against the Bucks.
